Holder for articles of magnetic material



Oct 23, 1951 R. E. PHELoN HOLDER FOR ARTICLES OF' MAGNETIC MATERIAL Filed Feb. 18, 1948 I l i l Patented Oct. 23, 1951 OFFICE HOLDER FOR ARTICLES OF MAGNETIC MATERIAL Russell E. Phelon, West Springfield, Mass.

Application February 18, 1948, Serial No. 9,134

4 Claims. (Cl. F75-367) The invention relates to a rack or holder utilizing one or more permanent magnets and adapted for holding articles consisting in whole or in part of magnetic material. A holder embodying the invention is particularly adapted for domestic use, as for instance in a kitchen, for holding cutlery, shears and the like. A holder embodying the invention is also adapted for use in a work shop or elsewhere for holding various small machinists or carpenters tools or other small articles.

The general object of the invention is to provide a holder of the type referred to which is simple and inexpensive, which has ample holding capability and which is attractive in appearance. A

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the drawing and from the following specification and claims.

In the drawing I have shown in detail different embodiments of the invention, but it will be understood that various changes may be made from the constructions shown and that the drawing is not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a front view of a magnetic holder.

Fig. 2 is an end view.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing an alternative mounting for the holder shown in Figs. 1 to 3.

Fig. 5 is a combined plan and sectional view of a magnetic holder embodying the invention, the section being along the line 5 5 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 6 is a front view of the holder shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an end view of the holder shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a combined plan and sectional view oi an alternative holder embodying the invention.

Fig. 9 is a front view of the holder shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is an end view of the holder shown in Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawing, particularly Figs. 1 to 3 thereof, I0, I0 are similar permanent magnets which may be formed of a suitable magnetic material, such as an iron-nickel-aluminum-cobait alloy. As illustrated, there are two such magnets but the number may be varied and for a very small holder a single magnet may suiiice.

Each magnet I0 has opposite parallel faces at its respective poles, and when two or more magnets are provided they are so arranged that the pole faces of one polarity are all in one plane and the pole faces of the opposite polarity are all in `another plane.

The magnets IIJ, I0 are positioned with their opposite pole faces at the top and at the bottom and two similar pole pieces I2, I2 are provided, these being formed of magnetic material such as iron. The pole pieces l2, I2 are of approximately the same length and they have horizontal relatively thin iiat portions I4, I4 which are held in engagement respectively with the opposite pole faces of the magnets I0, I0. The pole pieces are of substantial length and they extend longitudinally in opposite directions from the magnets.

The horizontal flat portions I4, I4 of the pole pieces are suitably connected with the magnets and as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 they are so connected by means of connecting members I6, I6. The said connecting members may be rivets extending transversely between the said horizontal portions of the pole pieces and through suitable holes therein. The connecting members or rivets I6, I6 serve not only to connect the horizontal portions of the pole pieces, but also to maintain the magnets in fixed relationship with the pole pieces and with each other. The magnets cannot be readily machined and they are therefore preferably provided with cast grooves I8, I8 formed in the opposite edges thereof, the rivets I6, I6 extending through these grooves.

The front edges 20 of the thin horizontal flat portions of the pole pieces are in vertical register with each other and they serve as narrow article holding faces. At least certain portions of the said edges or faces are spaced forwardly from the magnets and in the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3 the said edges or faces are straight and are in their entirety spaced forwardly from the magnets.

Connected with the horizontal flat portions I4, I4 of the pole pieces is a vertical iiange means which is located adjacent the rear edges of the said flat portions and is positioned for engagement with a vertical rear supporting wall. As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the said vertical flange means comprises vertical longitudinal flanges 22 which are integral with the horizontal flat portions I4, I4 of the pole piece, these flanges beingr spaced apart vertically and being in vertical register with each other. Preferably and as shown, the said flanges 22, 22 extend toward each 3 other. Ordinarily the anges 22, 22 are at the rear and are adapted to engage a vertical supporting wall to which the holder may be attached.

Preferably there are two means spaced longitudinally from the magnets for the attachment of the holder to a rear supporting wall. When the vertical ilange means comprises flanges such as 22, 22 the saidmeans for `the attachment-Qi the holder Yto a rear supporting wall are in the form of holes such as 24, 24 formed in the said flanges. of one flange and the other hole 24 Vis vvnear the opposite end of the other flange. Devices such as screws 26 may be inserted through the holes 24, 24 for attaching the holder zto thewa'll.

In use the holder is suitably mounted Ona supporting wall as shown, the registering article holding faces 2D, 23 being vertical. =Articles formed in whole or in part of magnetic material 1caribe placed in contact with the Yfaces 2.8., .2:0

land tlleyr will beheld magnetically.. Fig. -1 .cf the drawing shows a .knife A and a screw .driver B which are scheld. `.T;t will be understood that while the hnivesfandfother articles are .held suciently rmly so that they will not be separated by gravity or vibration, they can be readily removed when desired by grasping them and pulling them off.

-in making vthe engaging faces narrow is that a high uX density between the articles and the said engaging faces is assured, thus providing effective -holding power inasmuch as the holding .power is proportionate to the square .of .the flux density. that Aeach article is held at, two relatively widely spaced positions, thus assuring a favorable leverage `effect .on the article.

When the vholder is to be used primarily for tools or other items such as screw drivers which are round Vincross section insteadof flat, it may be preferable to reverse the mountingof the hold.. er as shown in Eig 4. With an item which is round in cross section there isonly `a line contact with the faces of .the pole pieces and itis therefore desirable to provide wider'faces so as to `increase the amountof magnetic ux. When the holder is to vbe mounted -as shown in Fig. :4 it is preferably held .by flat head screws 28, 28 instead of by `round, head screws 28, 2 6 as shown in Fig. 2.

Figs. to '7 show a magnetic holder embodying the invention, this differing in important respects from the holder shown 'in Figs. 1 to 3. Two margnets 30., 30 are provided which are generally similar tothe magnets H3, I0, but not provided with grooves. Two ypole pieces 32, 32 areprovided Ywhich are generally similar .to the pole pieces l2, l2. The vpole pieces 32, 32 have horizontal Vllat portions 34, 34 which are held in enF gagement respectively with the opposite pole lfaces of the magnets 30, 3B. The Aflat portions 34, 34 of the pole pieces are shown as being connected :vvithathe magnets by soldering as indicated at As shown, one hole 24 is near oneend.

Still another riin-portant advantage is tudinally beyond Ithe respectively adjacent magnets. Preferably the said faces 3B, 33 have substantially greater curvature at the end zones thereof than at the central portions or Zones thereof.. The central portions of the said facesV .38, 38 are spaced forwardly from the magnets 3D, 30. Preferably the magnets are positioned angularlyxsofthat their vertical longitudinal faces vare generally parallel with the immediately adjacent portions cf the curved faces 3B, 38.

:Connected with the horizontal flat portions 34, 34 of the pole pieces is a vertical flange means .which is vlocated yadjacent the rear edges of :the rsaid flat .portions and Vis in position for engagement with `a vertical Vrear supporting wall. As .shown in Figs. .5 to '7, the said vertical nange .means comprises .in part vertical .longitudinal i-anges- 43, .49, which are integral with the horizozntal fiat portions 32, 32. These verticalranges are spaced. apart vertically and are in vertical register with each other. The anges 45, 4i] ex.- tend toward each other vand .are adapted to `,en-- gage a vertical supporting wall to which theheld.-V er .may .be attached.

Preferably a ller member 42 isprovided which has. a length at least as great as that vof .the ypole pieces and which Vhas a yfront wall x14-extending longitudinally throughout the major portion .of the length .of .the said ller member; The wali 44 extends vertically .between the .horizontal iiat portions 34, 34 of the pole pieces and .at least a portionzof the wall is .at .the front of the :magnets A3D, 3,0. When the front races 38, 33 .are curved asshown yand described, the wall 44 is similarly curved, but .it is spaced. rearwardly vfrom .the said faces.

The-.nller member 42 .preferably has open front notches .43, 46. at. its ends, .each notch having a rear wall 43. The front wall 44 extends vlongitudinally between the notches 43, 46. The rear wallserlanges Y43, 48 yof the notches cooperate with the said vertical flanges 40., 43 to complete the aforesaid vertical flange means. 'The 'two means for the attachment .of the holderto a rearsupporting vwall `comprise holes 50, 5D Yin ythe vertical flange means for the -receptionlo attachment devices such as screws. As shown, the holes 56, -t'are `in Lthe walls 48, 48 and are so :located that the screws can extend between the anges 40, 4i! of the pole pieces.

-W-h-ile" the invention is not `necessarily so limited, the filler member 42 is shown in Figs..

to 7 as comprising a strip -of nonrneta-lflic metal such as brass or aluminum, this being bent to' form the curved frontwall 44 and to form the notches 4B, 46 and the rear walls or flanges 48,. 48 thereof. .The rear anges 48,-4-8V ofthe notches are connected, as for instance by rivets 52, 52, with the flanges 40, 4010i the pole pieces, the .ller

member being thus held in place.

The manner of use ofthe holder as shown 4in Figs. 5 to Y? .is similar to that described in `ccnnection with Figs. 1 -to 3.. vinasmuch as the pele pieces have curved front tfaces, the-total length available for engagement with lartic-les to be held` is -.sullstantially greater for a helder of the same overall length. IInasmuch asv-the curvature at the end zones is less than at the central zones, different radii of curvature are available for different articles. Some articles will be more effectively held at the portions of greater curvature and other articles will be more effectively held at the portion of smaller curvature.

With pole pieces having straight front faces, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a broad flat article or tool when engaged with the said faces carries such a large portion of the total available magnetic flux that smaller articles also engaged with the said faces may not be held Withsufflcient force to be retained in place. This difficulty is avoided when the front faces of the pole pieces are convexly curved as shown in Figs. 5 to '7. With the faces so curved it is impossible for the said faces to be engaged through any substantial portions of their length by a broad at article or tool. The broad article engages the said faces only at narrow zones and the total amount of flux is thus limited. With the front faces of the pole pieces curved, the holder presents a much more attractive appearance. The appearance of the article is still further improved by the filler member 42 which conceals the magnets. The ller member not only improves the appearance but it serves to prevent articles from being brought into direct contact with the magnets.

Figs. 8 to 10 show an alternative embodiment of the invention which is in many respects similar to that shown in Figs. 5 to 7. Two magnets 54, 54 are provided which are similar to the magnets 30, 3U, but differently positioned. Two pole pieces 56, 56 are provided which are similar to the pole pieces 32, 32, having similarly curved narrow front edge faces 58, 58. The pole pieces 56, 56 differ from the pole pieces 32, 32 in that they are not provided with integral longitudinal vertical flanges at the rear. The pole pieces 5'5, 56 are in engagement respectively with the opposite pole faces of the magnets 54, 54, but they are not directly connected therewith.

A filler member 60 is provided which has substantially the same length as the pole pieces 56, 56 and which preferably has a curved front Wall 62 similar to the wall 44. The filler member is shown as having open front notches 64, 64 at its ends which are similar to the notches 46, 46.

Each notch 64 has a rear wall 66 similar to the rear wall 48. The walls 66, 66 of the filler member collectively constitute a vertical flange means which is located adjacent the rear edges of the flat portions of the pole pieces 56, 56 and which is in position for engagement with a vertical rear supporting wall. The walls 66, 66 have holes at 68, 68 for the reception of devices such as screws for the attachment of the holder to a supporting Wall.

The filler member 60 may be cast or molded and it may advantageously be molded from a suitable plastic material, although the invention is not so limited. The member 60 is shown as comprising not only the front wall 62, a portion of which is preferably at the front of the magnets, but also a rear wall which is at the rear of the magnets and which is positioned to engage the supporting wall to which the holder may be attached. The said front and rear walls B2 and 10 may be connected by a transverse wall 12.

The filler member 60 is provided with vertical interior faces positioned to substantially fit portions ofthe magnets so as to prevent relative horizontal movements thereof. As shown, the front wall has faces 14, 14 for engaging the magnets at the front and the rear wall 10 has faces 16, 16 for engaging the magnets at the rear.

The pole pieces 56, 56 are connected with the filler member 6U by means of members 18, 18. These members may be screws engaging threaded apertures in the filler member, or they may be headed pins or the like having force fits in unthreaded apertures in the filler member. It will be seen that the pole pieces by reason of their connection to the filler member are held in enga'gement with the end faces of the magnets.

The holder as shown in Figs. 8 to 10 is not herein claimed specifically, this being set forth and claimed in my copending application for Holder for Articles of Magnetic Material, Serial No. 129,929, led November 29, 1949, now Patent No. 2,565,625, as a continuation-in-part of this present application.

What I claim is:

l. In a holder for articles of magnetic material, the combination of a plurality of similar permanent magnets spaced apart longitudinally and having opposite horizontal pole faces at the top and bottom, all of the magnet pole faces of one polarity being in one plane and all of the magnet pole faces of the opposite polarity being in another plane, two pole pieces of magnetic material extending longitudinally between the magnets and beyond them and having horizontal flat portions held in engagement respectively with the top and bottom pole faces of all of the magnets which flat portions of the pole pieces have straight rear edges located rearwardly from the magnets and adjacent the rear plane of the holder and which at portions of the pole pieces also have vertical article holding faces positioned in vertical register with each other and located in part forwardly from the magnets, the said vertical article holding faces longitudinally spanning the magnets and being continuously curved convexly from end to end and extending at their ends to the said straight rear edges of the pole pieces, and a filler member of nonmagnetic material having substantially the same length as the pole pieces and extending vertically from one to the other, the said filler member comprising a front wall located in part at the front of the magnets and behind the article holding faces of the pole pieces which front Wall is curved in conformity with the curvature of the adjacent portions of the said article holding faces and the said filler member comprising end walls at opposite sides of the magnets and spaced inwardly inward from the ends of the pole pieces which end walls extend rearwardly from the filler member front wall and the said filler member comprising flanges adjacent the rear plane of the holder and extending longitudinally from the ller member end walls which flanges have holes therein for receiving devices for attaching the holder to a rear supporting wall.

2. In a holder for articles of magnetic material, the combination of a permanent magnet having opposite parallel pole faces at the top and bottom, two pole pieces of magnetic material having horizontal fiat portions held in engagement respectively with the top and bottom pole faces of the magnet and extending longitudinally in opposite directions therefrom which pole pieces have front article holding faces positioned in vertical register with each other and spaced forwardly from the magnet, and a filler member of nonmagnetie material having substantially the same length as the pole pieces and having open front notches at its ends and between the lat gli?? 3:51?

geringe o f the pele pieces whieh notches formed With lOIlglldllll .Tear afngeis 'hallfng holes lor the reception 0f devices for attaehing the holder Vto a snpporting wall, the said I iller Inernber having a front wall extending longitudinally between the notches which wall eX- tends vertically between the fiat portions of the pole pieces with a portion thereof at the front of the magnet.

3. I n a holder for articles of magnetic material, the combination of a permanent rnagnet having opposite parallel pole faces at the top and betteln, two pole pieces of magnetic material having horizonta1 `flat portions held in engage,. nient respectively with the top and bottom pole faces ef the magnetand extending longitudinally in opposite directions therefrom which pole pieces have front article holding 4faces positioned in vertical register with each .other spaced forwardly from the magnet, and ,a filler member comprising a strip of -nonmagnetic metal extend.- ing longitudinally throughout the length of the pole pieces and extending vertically between the vsaid at portions thereof, the said ller -strip being bent to provide a front wall `spacedrear: wardly vfrom the front faces of the pole .pieces with a portion of thesaid wall at the front .of the magnet and the said ller strip being further bent to ferm open front notehesat its ends .which notches have longitudinal rear Walle -eenneeted with the pele 'plee/ee. A

V4 .vIn a holder for articles o f magnetic material, the combination of a permanent magnet having opposite parallel polefaces at the 'top andbottom, two pole pieces of magnetic .material having horizontal -i-lat portions held in engage- Inent respectively With the top and bottom pole facesof the magnet and extending longitudinally in opposite directions therefrom Whichpolepieces have front article holding .faces -DQ-Sitioned in 8 vertical Qreeleterfwith eaeli other .and spaced. fer.- Wardlv m tllemaerlet the Said Dale Dieees-also having veetieal lliaaeee at elle rearefftlefgiae- 'let and xtllng WWW@ each Qtlll, @india ,filler member eempreing a Strip of nonmaghenp metal extending longitudinally throughoiit the length of the pole pieces and eX-tendingvertically between the said at portions thereof, the said ller strip being bent to provide a front wall .spaced rearwardly from the front faces of the pole pieces with a portion of the said wall at the front of the magnet and the said-filler strip being further bent to forni open front notches at its ends which notches having longitudinal rear walls connected with the said flanges kof Ithe pole pieces.

RUSSELL, E- PHELQN- REFERENCES A011111315 The following references are of record in the le of this patent:`

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Y Date 361,248 Winton Apr. 12,1119?! 2,161,855 --4 June YV13, 1,939 2,224,938 Dec. 17, 1940 2,239,324 Hopkins npr. 15, 1941 2,262,142 6,411,242 2,337,249 Dec.21,1 943 2,414,653 Lookholder Jan,21', A1947 2,492,238 Roof nec. 27, -1949 215061400 -:f1: J1- 1950 Number Country ,Date

444,786 Great lBritain MarLZ'?,V 1936 446,715 great Aiixritaixf; May Y5, 1936 472,426 Great Britain eept 23,1937 544,110 Great Britain Mar. ,27 19 42 

